Come to the Cubby Bear and get transported instantly back to 1997 for a concert from Our Lady Peace. Okay, so to be fair, OLP has done a lot since their massive 90's hit song and album of the same name Clumsy, but it was with that track that they defined a generational sound. It pointed out a new aesthetic and movement that was being formed. The band really hit on what was working in alternative music and grunge.  They nailed it and made it at once accessible and their own.

Insider Info: Our Lady Peace is a legendary rock band and the fact that this monster-alternative group are playing at a venue as small as The Cubby Bear is quite the event to pounce on! Surely you will be able to get closer than ever to lead singer Raine Maida and hear his interesting and distinct falsetto in an intimate atmosphere. Although the fans are known to get into shows too, in the past, Raine has let the audience sing on their own-- just watching in awe. So break out the copy of Clumsy, brush up on your lyrics and belt it out!

When slight singer Alice Glass takes the stage it is in a strobe-lit frenzy. Her raccoon painted eyes light with an energy that turns the band into a tornado of sound and movement, and the audience can't help but get caught up in the whirlwind! The band's music is part noise rock, part electro, and below the stage, the venue becomes half elbow-in-the-ribs mosh pit and half rave dance party. The band's shows are known to be raucous, so much that helicopters of police have had to break up shows in the past! With songs that are both energetic and depressing, vulnerable but tough, exciting yet cool Crystal Castles may just be the perfect band to reflect with on the past year while celebrating like mad ringing in the new one!

Insider Info: Be prepared to stand/dance as there is not much sitting room in this space. Some liken it to a large gymnasium, but with all the dancing and moshing one that begins to slightly shake as the concerts get going! Expect to pay at least $5 for a beer as well. If afterward all of that dancing and standing has got you tired and hungry, Logan has its share of 24 hour taquerias to choose from.

The Verve Pipe released their first album, I've Suffered a Head Injury, in the early 90s which featured an early acoustic version of what would become their biggest hit, "The Freshmen." They weren't really introduced to the mainstream dialectic until 1999 with their breakout self-titled album, featuring a re-recorded studio version of the song that took hold over radio stations everywhere. Flash forward five albums later, they're now revamping their image and most recently recorded an album of more family-friendly songs. For more information on The Verve Pipe and their studio releases, visit their website.

Insider Info: If you prefer The Verve Pipe's angsty lyrics about pill-popping teenagers and the imagery of their earlier albums, have no fear, they probably won't be playing songs off their family-oriented album Saturday night. It will be an acoustic set, though, so you can expect a calmer atmosphere and not the kind of shows that gave them a reputation back in Lansing and Kalamazoo in the early 90s. Tickets are still available online, however the $2 service fee makes it just as cheap to buy them at the door and they probably won't sell out.

When you see Chicago Photographer Adam Ekberg’s work, you’ll understand why he’s gotten a lot of attention recently. His use of ‘lens-based phenomena’ suits his deceptively ordinary and still settings, lending them a certain magic and deliberation. Ekberg’s work was recently included in the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Elements of Photography, and now his newest works, including photographs and video, are part of a solo exhibition at Thomas Robertello Gallery in the West Loop. Don't miss the chance to admire these beautiful new works by a Chicago artist.

Insider Info: This show is Ekberg’s second solo exhibition at Thomas Robertello. The gallery is a small cozy spot on the main restaurant drag on Randolph, and because of the size and intimacy of the space, viewing Ekberg’s works in person is a Chicago opportunity you shouldn’t miss. Try to make it to the December 11, Friday night opening (5-8 p.m.) to meet both Robertello the dealer, as well as the artist himself. Ekberg resides in Chicago and graduated from the School of the Art Institute's MFA Photography program in 2006.

Sure, you could go out and see one of the traditional holiday shows, but I say throw tradition to the wind and spend your holiday dollars on “The Nut Tapper,”  a rhythmic recreation of Tchaikovsky’s classic “The Nutcracker Suite." The show presents the percussive rhythms of tap, gypsy flamenco, Mexican Zapateado and other forms of dance. “The Nut Tapper” loosely follows the classic story, adding a few funky twists and interesting turns. The show will go on at the well-known Athenaeum Theater, with a preview performance the day before at The Skokie Library.

Insider Info:  “The Nut Tapper” stars world-renowned tap dancer Reggio “The Hoofer” McLaughlin who founded the show 11 years ago. Reggio currently teaches at the Old Town School of Folk Music, and the show features a lot of his students. And who plays the famous role of the little girl Clara? ME!!!!!

Kathleen Waterloo is Chicago's most well know encaustic artist. Encaustic painting is a way of painting by using hot wax and pigment on panel which dries quickly, preserving the brush mark and color.  Ms Waterloo's work has a keen sense of color in the abstract compositions. In her recent exhibition Map Quest, at Melanee Cooper Gallery, she has applied the squiggly line that appears in Map Quest to get from your place to your destination as her mark in her paintings. In the exhibition Kathleen Waterloo has pushed the language of painting by incorporating neon tubing into select paintings. The neon gives a subtle reflective glow and color change in the wax based pigment.  Some longer neon pieces are displayed directly on the wall, conceptually giving you the direction line of the travel. All of the Map Quest lines were based on getting from her studio to one of the top 12 museums in America.

Insider Info: Related to Waterloo's work in the Melanee's second exhibition space, Julie Karabenick's paintings have a strong relationship to mapping.  Her exhibition Just Around the Block has a strong relationship to geometric shapes and mapping.  The strong grid composition in her paintings have an art historical relationship to the paintings of Piet Mondrian and his abstract geometric paintings.  Both exhibitions are on view through December 30th, 2009.

Come join Chicago's fiercest food bloggers for a night of blog talk, food talk, cooking and eating! It's like a blogger slumberparty without the sleeping bags (but with the cupcakes and other goodies of course.) Chicago's most famous food bloggers will there to talk on the panel. In the mix is my personal favorite Chicago baking blogger Bake and Destroy along with Kitchen Sink Recipes, Chicago Marathon Val, and The Paupered Chef. Though keep in mind this event is open to all non-bloggers as well! There is a $5 enrollment fee, which will be reimbursed in a Whole Foods gift card, so you can buy your favorite goodies after the event. Space is limited and registration is required. Sign up at a Whole Foods Customer Service desk or call 312-435-4600.

Insider Info: My fave on the list, Bake and Destroy is known for her punk-rock-infused baking and cupcakes with an obscure ingredients list. If you get a chance at the Q and A session, I'd ask her about environmentalism in cooking, how to infuse punk-rock in baking and how she dreams up her recipes!

Become a favorite among your friends this Holiday by learning how to mix perfect drinks from the pros. This class will teach you how to prepare festive drinks with seasonal ingredients, all while sipping on cocktails and snacking on fine Tapas cuisine. Nacional 27's own Drink Doctor, Adam Seger, will show you how to stir up a Sparkling Holiday Mojito and help you perfect the technique behind the Apertif 27. The class provides recipe cards, so you don't have to worry about remembering the ingredients and this week's session highlights champagne. You can make reservations by contacting Nacional 27 at 312-664-2727 or by purchasing tickets online.

Insider Info: After all the cocktails and appetizers, you're bound to be hungry! Nacional 27 will be serving dinner until 11 p.m. and dinner runs around $30 to $50 for two people. If you're looking for something a little cheaper, but still want tapas, there's always Quartino on North State Street. It's only a ten-minute walk away and is open until 2 a.m. Monday thru Sunday.

Where else can you partake in a free wine tasting while mingling and enjoying a beautiful panoramic view of our fine city? The Cityscape Bar, located on the 15th floor of the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza, is hosting the third installment of their, now monthly, free wine tasting series. The event is hosted by Maverick Wines and will highlight some of their best Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and White Zinfandel of last year. For more information on Maverick Wines, visit their website or contact them at 630-860-4600. Don't forget to RSVP for this event by emailing cityscape@martplaza.com, as space may be limited.

Insider Info: There will be hors d'oeuvres such as crab cakes, chicken satay and bruschetta served at the wine tasting, just enough to complement the wine but not enough to fill you up. Everyone in attendence will receive a 20% discount off dinner in Italiasia Restaurant after the event. Attendees can also enter to win an Italiasia "Tasting Room with a View Party" for 8 people, including a five-course tasting menu paired with specialty wines. For more information on Itallasia's menu and the Cityscape bar visit their website. And if you're not interested in dishing up a few bucks for a moderately expensive meal, the event ends early enough to make late-night plans in River North.

This Friday, The Art Institute once again throws open the doors to the Modern Wing from 6-10 pm for a delicious mix of art, booze and music. While the building’s original galleries filled with Monets, Van Goghs, and, currently, Caravaggio’s aren’t exactly suited for the twentysomething happy hour crowd, the Modern Wing seems practically built for nighttime parties with its soaring lobby and walls of glass that look out onto the Chicago skyline. If you’ve only seen the new wing during the day (or not at all), this is literally a chance to see it “in a whole new light.’

Insider Info: While similar to the MCA’s First Friday events on paper, you can expect an even more diverse crowd at After Dark, given its all-ages access (don’t worry, there’s still a cash bar AND complimentary apps) and performances by of-the-moment DJs and bands. This week’s lineup includes Dark Wave Disco and Midnight Conspiracy. And don’t forget the art: some of the new exhibitions are quite thrilling, including Monica Bonvicini’s Light Me Black, whose crumbling floors and fluorescent lights will delight those who critique the new wing for its pristine walls and (some way) wasted space.

The Joynt is hosting a 'Winter Escape' after party, specificaly for the yelp holiday bash but open to all partyers-- which makes for the perfect event to follow any early dinner plans and finish off the night with some cocktails and dancing. The Joynt is a retro swing bar, but if you're not into swing you can always check out the main bar or VIP lounge. There will be live entertainment featuring Dakota and the Deep City Band playing classic R&B and soul tunes in the Cabaret and a DJ playing retro disco and mash-ups of the most memorable 80s and 90s jams in the Grand Bar.

Insider Info: To join the yelp after-party, there will be no cover charge for those who RSVP, so be sure to contact The Joynt at 312-573-2233 and reserve your spot! Also, there will be $5 Three Olives flavored Vodka drinks as well as other drink specials.

Have you always seen speed dating in the movies and wondered where you might be able to do it yourself?  Are you looking for someone to spend time cuddling with through the winter? DateandDash, a Chicago-based speed dating company, is holding another event for those of us looking for love. This particular event is for people ages 22-32. The upcoming event on the 11th will be held at Legroom, a trendy venue at Rush and Division. Find a match (their success rate is approx. 90%) or your next speed-dating event is on them!

Insider Info: If this one fills up, you can always check the schedule for the complete list of events (there are quite a few still this month). The way they match people is by an automatic system online. People select yes or no in their online system to a person they met; they ask that you do so within 72 hours of the event for efficiency. Good luck on your dating, and hopefully you’ll find someone to kiss on NYE!

Come to Lasalle Power Company to enjoy some drinks, brunch and conversation with the women of Chicago's lingerie football team, Chicago Bliss. In case you've never heard of Bliss or lingerie football, let me catch you up to date. The lingerie football league is a national league of women that play 7-on-7 tackle football games in--you guessed it--bras and panties (in addition to helmets, knee pads and shoulder pads.) Chicago Bliss defeated the Miami Caliente this year in the first home game. Their next move is tackling the Philadelphia Passion in an away game. So if you lose your train of thought while standing in front of your sports-loving, lingerie-wearing dream-girl, just remember to mutter something about beating Philly!

Insider Info: Don't worry about missing brunch at Lasalle Power Company: they serve breakfast all day. Their brunch buffet, however, you might want to save time for. It goes until 4 P.M. and for $10 a person you get full access to tons of breakfast entrees. However, this spot is also known for their sliders, and rave reviews are reserved especially for the peanut butter and banana grilled slider. For $3 a pop, why not see what the buzz is all about?

The holiday season is all about multi-tasking. So, the Yoga for a Cause event being held on December 12 seems to be a perfect fit for this time of year. This is a yoga workshop for any and all yoga skill levels.  Whether you’re super flexible or looking to start yoga for the very first time, you’re welcome at this event.  It’s also a donation-only workshop, and all the donation proceeds go to a different charity each month. This month, Yoga for a Cause will be contributing to Toys for Tots. Get in the holiday spirit by being charitable AND getting a jump start on burning off all those extra calories you know you’ll be taking in this month!

Insider Info: Those who decide they want to attend this event should definitely pre-register to secure their spot.  You can register online at http://www.bloomyogastudio.com/reg.html or by calling 773-463-9642.  The suggested donation is $15, but if you’d like to get more creative you can also bring in a kid’s toy or gift, as this workshop benefits Toys for Tots.  The class will also be led by Kerry Maiorca, who is the director of Bloom Yoga Studio, so this class promises to be excellent!

Come feel the good vibrations as you get your mind and body aligned and set a-buzz at Soulistic Studio's "Body Buzz" Workshop. This workshop is a sound-healing meditation class that uses live music as well as recorded sounds to help heighten the meditation experience. The luscious sounds of a live guitar will be interwoven through the peaceful sounds (of world instruments) being played. This music bathes the listeners and is said to be at once healing, organic and deep. In each class there may be some light movement and breathing work insrtucted by a professional.

Insider Info: This meditation is to focus on all of the seven chakras and heighten the vibration therein. The meditation will begin with Om and travel up through the chakras from root to crown, completing by returning to Om. It isn't neccessary to be familiar with the chakra system to go into this class, but in case you wanted to brush up before hand, there are plently of articles to be found online. Pre-registration is also required to participate in this class. Registration is not yet available online, you can register by calling 312-226-7685.

Women & Children First, Andersonville's famous feminist bookstore, will be hosting Chicago mystery writers Sara Paretsky and Libby Fischer Hellmann in a literary and Chanukah extravaganza. You don't have to be Jewish to enjoy the myriad of activities that will take place, including readings from both authors, menorah lighting, booksigning, and suggestions for holiday gifting. Of course, what holiday event (or any event) is complete without food and drink? Latkes and champagne will be served.

Insider Info: If you purchase either Hellmann's (Doubleback) or Paretsky's (Hard Ball) latest books, you can receive a free V.I. Warshawsky t-shirt. Warshawsky is the hard talking, 6 foot tall, female investigator in a series by Paretsky, and was once played by Kathleen Turner. Who wouldn't want that?

Pack up the kiddies, bypass grandma’s house and take them to Whole Foods! The Lincoln Park Whole Foods is celebrating the holidays with a winter carnival from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on December 12. Clementine Art Studio is hosting a free workshop using natural art supplies, along with Chicago Children’s Museum and other community partners. There will even be real reindeer from Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch greeting people in the 3rd floor parking lot. Families can also enjoy a gingerbread house making class with the Whole Foods Market Bakery Team. The class will take place in the Lifestyle Center on the mezzanine level, and will include a frosted gingerbread house and candy (the class is $19.99 per family).

Insider Info: Whole Foods is the place to be this holiday season! The Thursday before the Winter Carnival, Whole Foods will host a free spa night, offering body care and make-up demonstrations. The first fifty customers will receive a complimentary tote bag. And for a more worldly experience you can attend Christmas Around the World on December 9 where you’ll get a sampling of foods from around the world for $15.

Galleria 1712 is hosting a Holiday Cocktail Party and Art Showcase, displaying works from over 20 different artists. The Galleria, or "eclectic marketplace" as described by owners Teresa Ciucci and Ted Neri, features everything from mixed-media pieces to handmade clothing and accessories. Each one-of-a-kind piece makes for a perfect present this holiday season. For more information contact Galleria 1712 via phone at 773-235-1712 or by email at info@galleria1712.com.

Insider Info: As you might have seen with large-scale craft events, such as the Renegade Craft Fair last weekend, things can get pretty hectic when trying to visit each artist's kiosk - and it doesn't help to have a drink in your hand. To avert any possible confusion, you can view the works on display beforehand at the Galleria's website so you know what you like before you go.